Chapter 2-

It had been a week since I arrived at Horizon. And let me tell you, it was worse then ever. One night in particular I headed into a room off of the dining room for something Peter called 'group'. Whatever. It didn't sound like my kind of thing. But apparently it was mandatory or something. So I went in expecting something completley different from what I found. We all sat on the couches and Peter stood in front of us. He gave us this little speech about how we can't live in the past. We have to move on and accept the things that are happening now. The whole time I was only half litening. I was letting my mind wander to other things. Like how much I missed Josh. So when Daisy poked me in the side I was really surprised. I looked up and saw everyone staring at me. Peter looked at me expectantly, "Um . . . I'm sorry, what?"

I heard a few chuckles from around me and Peter smiled before saying, "Are you living in the past?" I thought for a minute before replying.

"Um . . . I guess so. But I don't think that's really such a bad thing."

Peter stared at me for a moment and asked, "Would you care to elaborate?"

I took in a deep breathe, "Well, I mean. If you don't at least 'visit' the past," I said using air quotations, "Then you don't really know who you are. Without a past you're nobody."

"That's true but when you live in the past you're not allowing yourself to change or move on. You're not allowing yourself to have a future." Peter was talking to the whole group now. Not just me. "That's something I want you guys to realize. Yes, you need a past to be someone but you need a future to live." He stopped for, what I guessed was a dramatic pause, then said, "Okay, you can all go."

I headed up towards my dorm seeing no one had come with me I sat on the stairs looking out over Horizon. I thought about what Peter had said. "You need a future to live." What a load of crap. I mean, the whole place was just way too deep for me. Everything had to have a hidden meaning. Nobody could say something straight out. They always, always, beat around the bush. For some reason, though, I couldn't help but wonder what the hidden meaning in this was. While I was pondering someone all alone was heading towards the woods. Something made me walk down the stairs and right up to whoever that person was, "Excuse me." I said. They didn't turn. I could see whoever it was was wearing a hoodie hung low over his eyes. He had a backpack on and walked with a slight limp. "Hey." I said, "Stop. I'm trying to talk to you." The person stopped and a feeling of fear crept up my spine. Maybe I shouldn't have come down here.

I scanned the courtyard hoping someone would come out of a building. The person turned and started walking towards me. I tried to move but it was like I was glued to the ground. I tried to scream but I couldn't make a single noise. "What?" The person, a guy, said. "You said you were talking to me so talk." He sounded irritated but he had a nice voice.

I didn't know how I was going to say anything but once I opened my mouth wordsjust started pouring out, "Who are you and where are you going?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because from the looks of it you're running away and I could tell Peter right this second." If only I could find him. But this odd rambling was giving me great stall time.

The guy lifted up his head and I could barely make out his features. "My name's Jackson Gafferty. I'm on my way to New York."

"Um. Well, Jackson Gafferty. Did you know New York is on the other side of the country?"

They guy sighed, "No, I'm completley stupid." He said sarcastically, "Of course I know it's on the other side of the country. Did you know this converstaion is over and I'm leaving?" Jackson turned to leave,

"Wait!" I said, "What's going to happen tomorrow when Peter finds out you ran away? What will I say? I'll be in so much trouble if it gets out I know you're leaving."

The guy looked at me, "Tell him you're letting someone find their hidden treasure." and he left. I barely saw it. In fact, I'm not sure I did see it. But I wasn't scared anymore. I walked back up the stairs and sat down again as Daisy, Shelby, Kat, Juliette, and the Cliffhanger guys started coming up. "What the heck was that supposed to mean?" I thought to myself. I got up and ran down towards Peters office to tell him Jackson was running away. I got in there and he and Sophie looked like they were deep in conversation. I waited until a break in the conversation before saying, "Um . . .Peter? Can I talk to you?"

Sophie quickly spoke first, "It's after 11, Olivia. That means you have to be in your dorm."

"I know," I told her, "But it'll just take a minute and it's really important." I hoped she could hear the urgency in my voice.

Peter walked closer to me and said, "Not tonight, okay Olivia? Can it wait until the morning."

"I hope so." I muttered figuring really had no chance against the both of them.

"Good." Peter smiled again. What was with this guy and smiling? "Why don't you go up to your cabin." I nodded and left the building. When I was back in my dorm I started thinking about Jackson again. Why had I been so afraid? Why couldn't I moved even when I tried so hard? What was with that guy. It was like he had some power over me. I rolled onto my side and rolled my eyes at how stupid I was being. It was just a guy. Running away. I felt this strange urge to run down and tell Peter right away but I kept inside. I would wait until morning.